Settlement Music School

Settlement's financial aid program is the vehicle through which underserved children gain access to the School's programs. The School annually provides approximately $2.7 million in financial aid and scholarships across all programs to nearly 60% of its students. Settlement has been successful in recruiting and retaining credentialed and experienced faculty. This faculty provides 10,000 weekly Music and arts related programs and services to all the communities that the School serves, including low-income and underserved communities. Settlement employs approximately 260 faculty, making it one of the largest employers of Music educators in Pennsylvania. The kaleidoscope program uses the arts to prepare 114 low-income preschool students for academic success. The program has a proven record of success, with participant's School readiness scores three times higher than peers in non-arts enriched programs. 90% of the students in the kaleidoscope program qualify for head start funding due to family income or special needs and attend tuition-free. The innovation and quality of kaleidoscope has helped it become a national model of arts-based preschool education. The budget for kaleidoscope is over $1 million, representing approximately 13% of the School's budget.